Silent night, holy night. All is calm . . . It was 9:30pm and all in the neighborhood was peacefully quiet. The only hazy sound was of a large vehicle going by off in the distance. As I listened it became increasingly apparent that it was not far away but very close and now had … Continue reading Silent Night →

If you have any tiny scrap of joy this season, then for the sake of others who’ve been coming up short (particularly right now), please pass a bit of that scrap forward. Your own spark of joy can be shared in a hundred small ways. You already know that. Make it your business to spread … Continue reading Scrap of Joy →

Yep, I broke another pair. I’m at a certain level of maturity (read: life experience) that allows me the freedom to unashamedly wear off-brand, reasonably priced sunglasses. They have to be flattering OF COURSE. But finally, after many misplaced, left behind at a restaurant or otherwise damaged beyond repair tragedies, I’ve learned to navigate these … Continue reading Once Again →

Magical ornaments hang on my tree. They have properties like no others, each with a charm all their own. The butterfly near the top spreads its wings to fly me back to the time when a single mother and her three young girls headed North on a road trip up the California Coast. On that … Continue reading Magical Ornaments →

Do you ever read the care tags sewn into clothing and textile products? My very favorite is the tag that reads, “Exclusive of Decoration.“ Sometimes that’s followed by an admonition to spot clean or dry clean only. While this statement declares that the item is special for various reasons its also noting that specific care … Continue reading Exclusive →

The Ladies Home Journal circa Christmas 1910 One of my sisters, the one who has always been an avid reader, used to subscribe to quite a few monthly magazines; the home decor and women’s lifestyle type in particular. When done with the current issues she would thoughtfully provide me with an ongoing supply. I regarded … Continue reading Save it for Later? →

Oh Thanksgiving 2020 ~ a year we didn’t see coming and that no one predicted. Just like so many others I lost a job I loved during this pandemic and with it so many unintended consequences. Although it’s been a struggle I find myself truly thankful for so many unanticipated things that have resulted. My … Continue reading So Thankful →

There was a small and hungry group of us at a restaurant one pre-pandemic night asking the usual menu questions of a good natured young waitress. I don’t recall what I’d ordered or much else about the evening for that matter but I remember the impression made on me by our server. She had perfected … Continue reading Lasting Impression →

A professor at the university had given me a cutting from his well established guava tree in exchange for my scrawny dwarf orange that was long overdue to be planted into the ground. It had produced only a single orange for two years in a row despite a plethora of fragrant blossoms. Clearly to bear … Continue reading Guava Tart? →